If your pup turns up their nose at dry kibble or their water bowl, consider wet dog food. After researching popular options, consulting veterinary experts and testing several brands firsthand, we recommend as the best wet dog food overall. It’s made with ethically sourced proteins and simple ingredients, and most importantly, dogs seem to love eating it. For customized, human-grade meals made with high-quality ingredients, also delivers. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best wet dog foods available—and all adhere to nutritional guidelines set by the (AAFCO).
If you’ve ever read the label on a can of dog food and wondered where the ingredients actually came from, Open Farm makes it easy to find out. Its Surf & Turf Pâté is made with grass-fed beef, beef liver and sustainably caught whitefish—all ingredients you can trace online to see exactly how they were sourced.
Every batch of the brand’s canned food is tested for things like salmonella and heavy metals before it leaves the facility, and you can even review the lab results yourself. (To view sourcing and safety information about your specific batch, try the company's online transparency tool.)
Smooth, Irritant-Free Pâté For Picky Eaters
The smooth pâté texture is easy for most dogs to eat, even those who tend to be picky, and the recipe doesn’t include common irritants like soy, legumes or carrageenan. We especially like the Surf & Turf recipe because it combines beef and whitefish, both excellent sources of protein and nutrients dogs need, along with beef liver for extra vitamins and minerals. It’s also free of chicken, a protein that can be problematic for some dogs with food sensitivities.
Reliable, Easy-To-Digest Backup Dog Food
If your dog prefers different proteins, Open Farm also has recipes with , and that are worth trying. I personally always keep a few cans in my pantry as backup in case my dog’s usual food subscription gets delayed or we’re going to be traveling. She loves the taste, and unlike dry kibble, it doesn't upset her digestion or cause changes to her stool.
Open Farm’s puppy pâté uses the same high-quality ingredients and transparent sourcing as its adult recipes, but it’s formulated specifically to meet the needs of growing puppies.
A Specialized Recipe For Growth Spurts
The veterinarians we spoke to emphasized that young dogs require specific amounts of vitamins and minerals to support healthy growth—particularly larger breeds, which can have more demanding nutritional requirements. Rather than settle for a general "all life stages" food, they recommend choosing a dedicated puppy formula like this to ensure your pup gets the nutrients they need.
A Stomach-Friendly Recipe Pups Actually Finish
This recipe blends humanely raised chicken, wild-caught salmon, chicken liver and veggies like sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots. And while this is the brand’s only puppy-specific flavor available right now, most reviewers say their pups happily clean their bowls.
My own young dog regularly eats this canned food, which we mix in with her fresh meals from (another top pick below) now that she’s getting older. She loves the taste and it hasn’t caused any digestion issues, which I can’t say about every food we’ve tried.
Several veterinarians we spoke to recommended limited-ingredient diets for senior dogs, because simpler recipes are often easier on aging digestive systems.
Real Shreds Of Chicken You Can Actually See
Weruva’s Paw Lickin’ Chicken recipe is a great example. Its main ingredient is cage-free chicken breast, and you can actually see the recognizable chunks of real meat as soon as you open the can. Plus, it’s soft enough for older dogs to chew comfortably without being overly mushy.
Mix Up Mealtime Without Sacrificing Quality
Weruva also offers plenty of variety if your dog is excited about trying new flavors. There are over a dozen other recipes to choose from, including options featuring turkey, duck, tuna, pumpkin, carrots and more, all made to the same high-quality standards. So even if your senior dog’s tastes change as they age—or they simply get picky—there are plenty of options to keep them interested in mealtime. (Visit our guide to the best dog food for seniors for more of our picks.)
The Farmer’s Dog is different from typical wet foods because it’s fresh and arrives frozen, but it still has the softer texture and high moisture content that make wet food appealing to many pups.
Human-Grade Ingredients Tailored To Your Dog’s Specific Needs
Forbes Vetted named it the best dog food delivery service in 2026, thanks largely to its personalized approach and high-quality ingredients. Recipes feature proteins like beef, chicken, turkey and pork, combined with vegetables and nutrient-rich ingredients such as chickpeas and salmon oil. The meals are cooked gently in a human-grade facility, then frozen and shipped directly to you.
Easy Pre-Portioned Pouches (If You Have The Freezer Space)
When you sign up, you first have to answer a quick survey about your dog’s age, breed, weight and activity, so the meals arrive already portioned out for your pup’s specific needs. The packaging conveniently includes your pet’s name, which is helpful if you board your dog or use daycare regularly. Just remember you need a decent amount of freezer space, and the packages can’t be resealed once opened.
Our Tester’s Experience
All that said, I regularly feed The Farmer’s Dog to my pup and have never had an issue with storage. The packs of food lay flat in the freezer and are easy to stack, and the brand sends you a convenient storage container to keep partially used packages fresh in the fridge. For more details, check out another tester’s full review of The Farmer’s Dog service with her pup, Gizmo.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you already know how tricky it can be to find food that keeps their digestive system happy. This recipe combines a relatively streamlined ingredient list with a stew-like texture and high moisture content, making it a popular choice among pet owners whose dogs need a little extra care when it comes to mealtime.
Slow-Cooked Stew That Looks And Smells Like Human Food
This Caru Daily Dish recipe features a simple ingredient list with human-grade turkey and salmon, two proteins commonly found in recipes designed for dogs with digestive sensitivities, plus mild veggies like pumpkin, carrots and apples. The stew is slowly cooked in small batches, and it even looks (and smells) like something you might make yourself.
Helps With Dogs Shifting Away From Grains And Potatoes
Reviewers frequently note this recipe improved their dogs’ digestive issues after switching from other brands, especially those containing potatoes or grains. Plus, Caru packages its stew in a convenient, resealable pouch rather than a traditional can, so it’s easy to portion out exactly what your dog needs. (Check out our guide to the best dog food for sensitive stomachs for more options.)
If your vet recommends a prescription diet to manage your dog’s specific health issues, JustFoodForDogs has fresh recipes created by veterinarians and nutritionists. Unlike many traditional prescription foods, these recipes include recognizable, human-grade ingredients like wild-caught cod, lamb, turkey and fresh veggies.
Target Specific Issues, From Kidney Function To Appetite Loss
The brand offers four specialized formulas to support a variety of concerns, such as kidney health, liver function, metabolism and appetite stimulation during critical care. Each recipe carefully controls nutrient levels based on specific health conditions. All four varieties come in frozen fresh formats, and two of the formulas also come in convenient shelf-stable “Pantry Fresh” versions.
You’ll Need A Vet Prescription, But Not A Subscription
Just keep in mind that you will need a prescription from your veterinarian to order these diets, though you don’t have to commit to a subscription unless you want to. The meals are available directly from the company online, at JustFoodForDogs stores nationwide and at select Petco locations.
How We Chose The Best Wet Dog Food
To find the best wet dog food, we combined personal testing, expert insights and thorough research, keeping our own dogs in mind every step of the way.
- We tried many of these foods firsthand with our pets over several months—and in some cases, years. My dogs regularly eat meals from , and I also feed them both whenever we’re traveling or between fresh-food deliveries.
- We also spoke with two veterinarians who specialize in canine nutrition, asking them exactly what pet parents should look for when choosing wet food, especially for puppies, seniors and dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Finally, we looked closely at ingredient quality, transparency about sourcing, compliance with AAFCO nutritional standards and real-life customer experiences, prioritizing options that keep dogs healthy and their owners happy. Every wet dog food on this list has a minimum average rating of 4 stars and very few, if any, negative reviews.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted home team regularly researches and writes about pet products, from the best cat food to the best dog beds.
- Kelly O’Sullivan was a former home and kitchen editor for Forbes Vetted. She’s a lifelong dog owner and proud parent to two pups. O’Sullivan has also tested and reviewed the best fresh dog food and the best raw dog food.
- This article’s updates are overseen and edited by senior home and kitchen editor Amy Moran, who has over a decade of experience in service-driven journalism.
- This story was last updated in June 2026 by home and pets writer Fran Sales. She has also extensively covered dog delivery services, dry dog foods and dog beds.
Our Experts
- , DVM, veterinary medical advisor for Rover
- , DVM, resident veterinarian at Waggel, a U.K.-based pet insurance firm